--- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, anonymousff <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Rick Archer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > off_world_beings at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > > "Believe nothing. > > > No matter where you read it, > > > Or who said it, > > > Even if I have said it, > > > Unless it agrees with your own reason > > > And your own common sense." > > > > > > ~ Buddha > > > 6th century bce Indian mystic and founder of Buddhism from The > > > Dhammapada > > > > Any of you Buddhists know if this is a valid quote? Might add it to > > the home page. > > Yeah, good quote, provided your reason and common sense (referred to > in the quote) are sound. Unfortunately, it could also be used to > justify views that most people find rather strange, like Bob's view > for example (no offense intended Bob). > JF
**** It is much more common that quotes from the holy scriptures, divinities, gurus, authorities etc. are taken out of their proper context, to find justification to one's actions. In those cases people don't even try to find out if it really is true in the context used. People often have just adopted a skilful means by which they don't need to look at the hidden motives and emotions behind their functioning and start to listen to the whispers of truth and conscience deep inside. You lean on authorities instead, and focus your energy on judging those who don't lean in the same way. The success of modern science is based on its methodology of really looking at phenomenon and trying to be free from preconceived ideas. Also you can refute theories, you can show them to be wrong, and you don't get hang . Something written or spoken can never be the truth. The language tries symbolically to describe the observed reality, in which there regularly are many nuances and aspects. This symbolic expression is always a simplification. And every situation we are in is a new one, even if it can have a lot of similarities to experiences people have gone through before and from which we can learn. Irmeli To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
